A former director of Hopkinton's Parks and Recreation Department has come under scrutiny for allegedly bypassing state laws during his tenure. According to an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report, Jay Guelfi, the department’s past overseer, shirked state procurement laws and town cash handling policies. The investigation unearthed that Guelfi forged an unwritten deal with a local food truck vendor to run a concession stand at the Fruit Street Athletic Fields.
Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro, in letters addressed to town officials, made public the findings of the probe instigated by multiple calls to the OIG’s Fraud Hotline. "The Commonwealth’s governmental bodies must act as good stewards of public assets in conducting procurements and accounting for cash revenues," Shapiro emphasized, suggesting that such alleged transgressions of law and policy not only undermines legal procedure but public trust as well.
Further inspection revealed that Guelfi, rather than depositing concession stand revenues with the town’s treasurer per legal requirement, apparently stored cash in his office desk – a move that was found to violate Hopkinton’s cash handling policies. The OIG’s investigation could not completely track all financial transactions due to inadequate record-keeping, hence obscuring the full extent of the alleged mismanagement.
"Handshake deals and desk drawers full of cash are not only clear violations of state law and local policies, but also are an abuse of public resources," IG Shapiro's determined, according to the report. Guelfi's actions were cited as examples of how such practices can foster environments ripe for fraud, waste, and abuse. The OIG has prescribed specific recommendations to fortify the town’s internal controls and ensure adherence to state procurement laws and town policies.
Hopkinton town officials have been given 30 days to respond to the OIG's directives to remedy the situation. The OIG maintains its invitation to the populace for reporting suspicions of fraud, waste, or abuse of public resources, guaranteeing confidentiality and investigative review for all complaints lodged via their fraud hotline or email. The department's commitment to leading the public's business with integrity continues to stand as the cornerstone of its mission.
